1. Whimsical

2. Well-balanced

3. Vulnerable

First off, the story...

Ambulatory wheelchair user Margaret Kingsley secretly crafts gadgets for the Daughters of Genius Society, a covert team of lady inspectors disguised as harmless bluestocking spinsters. While her fellow inspectors gallivant about London solving crimes, Margaret has been perfectly content assisting from the sidelines--until her expertise is needed to infiltrate the domain of London's most prolific inventor, Alvan T. Harrison.

Charles Noble sacrificed his career as a musician to support his family after his father's stroke. Now he balances ledgers as a secretary by day and tends his disabled father by night, until taking a temporary job as event coordinator for a famous inventor commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his mechanical empire. As strange occurrences surface, Charles's event planning collides with Margaret's case, and the pair must unravel a plot of sabotage against the inventor's legacy while also investigating the sparks of attraction between them.

Now, the review (why THOSE three words...)

One of the saddest things in my life as a reader might be having to read a regular book—one in which the words do not dance and play along the page—after completing an Angela Bell book.

But let me start at the beginning. Lady Margaret Kingsley, daughter of our beloved protagonists from A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure, is a member of a secret organization of lady inspectors who put their talents and intellect to great use solving mysteries and righting wrongs. It is a well-imagined blend of Little Women and Inspector Gadget. (So says the marketing, and I must agree.) And the lady behind the gadgets? Miss Margaret, of course.

The love interest along for her adventurous ride, contributing to and challenging her along the way, is Mr. Charles Noble. He is a relatable sort of man who shows a calm and enduring veneer to the outside world, while inside he is all vulnerability.


In fact, both characters have their obvious points of vulnerability, which the author does a fine job of revealing at a palatable pace—not overdone or overemphasized—but as a tool to show perseverance and ultimately to bring the characters closer to one another and to God.

There is something about the way Ms. Bell writes that makes me feel that the author is sharing a part of her own inner workings in a way that leaves her vulnerable as well. For that, I think she is very brave.

That is all I will say on the story itself. I’d rather gush about my favorite part of Ms. Bell’s books—her writing style. I am both in awe of and, admittedly, a little jealous of Ms. Bell’s ability to use description to almost paint a story within a story.


For example—

“Lord Marlow’s eyes narrowed upon him as he continued to pound Charles’s back as if it were a filthy carpet on cleaning day, and he a maid with rage issues…”

Put simply, her words make me smile from cover to cover.

I am ever on the hunt for stories built on narrative wit. It’s quite the difficult quest, as many authors seem to think that to be witty one must also be silly. Right?

But I don’t particularly want silly. Not all the time, at least.

Well, there is nothing silly about A Lady’s Guide to Gadgets and Guile. Whimsical? Yes. Playful, for sure. But not truly silly.

Ms. Bell, please never stop sharing your talent for wit and whimsy. We all need a bit more of that in our lives.

Like these reviews? Please follow me on Goodreads and subscribe to my monthly newsletter! Thanks!